Martin Kastehttp://nwpr.org
enMany Colleges Have Armed Police Squads, But Are They Worth The Risk?http://nwpr.org/post/many-colleges-have-armed-police-squads-are-they-worth-risk
American college campuses are increasingly patrolled by armed police officers — and it's a trend that burst into public view Wednesday, when a University of Cincinnati officer was charged with murder in the shooting death of a black motorist during a traffic stop.Thu, 30 Jul 2015 21:59:00 +0000Martin Kaste66408 at http://nwpr.orgMany Colleges Have Armed Police Squads, But Are They Worth The Risk?The 'Shock Of Confinement': The Grim Reality Of Suicide In Jailhttp://nwpr.org/post/shock-confinement-grim-reality-suicide-jail
The case of Sandra Bland has raised anger and suspicions nationwide since she was found dead in a jail cell in Hempstead, Texas, two weeks ago. Bland's family and supporters have rejected the medical examiner's finding of suicide, and the criminal district attorney for Waller County, Texas, says he's recruited two outside lawyers to assist in the investigation of her death.Mon, 27 Jul 2015 22:06:00 +0000Martin Kaste66260 at http://nwpr.orgThe 'Shock Of Confinement': The Grim Reality Of Suicide In JailSandra Bland Video Shows An Argument With Police Officerhttp://nwpr.org/post/sandra-bland-video-shows-argument-police-officer
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Sandra+Bland+Video+Shows+An+Argument+With+Police+Officer&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxMTMyMDY2MDEyNDUxNzAyNjlmODI5NQ004)"/></div><p>Wed, 22 Jul 2015 09:49:00 +0000Martin Kaste66010 at http://nwpr.orgA Death In A Texas Jail Stirs Suspicionhttp://nwpr.org/post/death-texas-jail-stirs-suspicion
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=A+Death+In+A+Texas+Jail+Stirs+Suspicion&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDExNDExMTQwMDEzNjkwODAzMTkxNmQ4Zg004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>Texas authorities are trying to keep from being overwhelmed by suspicion on social media. It's suspicion about the death of Sandra Bland. Officials say the 28-year-old African-American woman committed suicide while in jail a week ago, Monday.Tue, 21 Jul 2015 09:34:00 +0000Martin Kaste65958 at http://nwpr.orgIs It Possible To Let More People Out Of Prison, And Keep Crime Down?http://nwpr.org/post/it-possible-let-more-people-out-prison-and-keep-crime-down
President Obama has made incarceration reform a White House theme this week. On Monday, he <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/13/422592386/white-house-announces-commutations-for-46-nonviolent-offenders">commuted the sentences</a> of 46 mostly nonviolent drug offenders; and on Tuesday, he spoke about reducing the prison population in a speech to the NAACP.<p>"The United States is home to 5 percent of the world's population but 25 percent of the world's prisoners," Obama said. "Think about that.Thu, 16 Jul 2015 09:02:00 +0000Martin Kaste65756 at http://nwpr.orgIs It Possible To Let More People Out Of Prison, And Keep Crime Down?Nationwide Crime Spike Has Law Enforcement Retooling Its Approachhttp://nwpr.org/post/nationwide-crime-spike-has-law-enforcement-retooling-their-approach
Crime in America may be on the rise again. It's too early to talk about a national trend, but there have been troubling spikes in shootings and murders in big cities such as New York, Baltimore and Los Angeles.<p>Until recently, crime decreased steadily for two decades, and the national murder rate is half what it was in the early 1990s — so police departments are under pressure to crack down.Wed, 01 Jul 2015 20:39:00 +0000Martin Kaste65101 at http://nwpr.orgNationwide Crime Spike Has Law Enforcement Retooling Its ApproachScammers Turn To Caller ID 'Spoofing' To Pose As Police http://nwpr.org/post/scammers-turn-caller-id-spoofing-pose-police
Most people know to hang up on con artists supposedly calling from the power company or the IRS, demanding money. The problem is, there's little the police can do — even when the scammers go so far as to impersonate the police themselves.<p>The fake police scam, or "spoofing," has been making the rounds for the last year or so.<p>Cmdr.Wed, 17 Jun 2015 09:04:00 +0000Martin Kaste64413 at http://nwpr.orgAs Police Body Cameras Increase, What About All That Video?http://nwpr.org/post/police-body-cameras-increase-what-about-all-video
You know what a pain it can be storing and organizing the millions of videos you've shot on your smartphone. Now imagine you're a police officer, and you wear a body camera every day.<p>Police cams have suddenly become a big business. In the months since Ferguson, share prices for the camera manufacturer <a href="https://www.taser.com/">Taser International</a> have doubled.Fri, 29 May 2015 22:09:00 +0000Martin Kaste63556 at http://nwpr.orgAs Police Body Cameras Increase, What About All That Video?Questions Remain About How To Use Data From License Plate Scannershttp://nwpr.org/post/questions-remain-about-how-use-data-license-plate-scanners
License plate scanners have become a fact of life. They're attached to traffic lights, on police cars — even "repo" staff use them. All those devices have created a torrent of data, raising new concerns about how it's being stored and analyzed.<p>Bryce Newell's laptop is filled with the comings and goings of Seattle residents. The data comes from the city's license plate scanner, acquired from the police through public disclosure requests. He plugs in a license plate number, uncovering evidence of long-forgotten errands.<p>"Looks like we have you here on University Way," he says.Wed, 27 May 2015 20:33:00 +0000Martin Kaste63450 at http://nwpr.orgQuestions Remain About How To Use Data From License Plate ScannersPolice Rethink Tactics Amid New Technologies And Social Pressurehttp://nwpr.org/post/police-rethink-tactics-amid-new-technologies-and-social-pressure
This week in Washington, thousands of sworn officers gathered for National Police Week, an annual commemoration of the lives of officers who've died on the job.<p>This year it was hard for participants to escape the shadow of the anti-police protests of the past nine months. One of the week's events, a memorial bicycle ride, even was rerouted away from Baltimore, to make sure the nearly 2,000 officers participating in the ride wouldn't become targets.<p>Sgt.Thu, 14 May 2015 07:29:00 +0000Martin Kaste62842 at http://nwpr.orgPolice Rethink Tactics Amid New Technologies And Social Pressure